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The Leader in Small Groups on the Road Less TraveledNever more than 10-16 travelers—guaranteed!

Best Price Guarantee

Share your Love of Travel

When you refer new travelers to O.A.T. through our Vacation Ambassador Referral Program, you’ll earn $100 per person in your choice of CASH or credit—and the more travelers you refer, the greater the rewards: up to a FREE TRIP. Watch our video to learn how.

Good Buy Plan

Learn about how you can guarantee your trip price—and save up to 10%—with OAT’s exclusive Good Buy Plan. The earlier you reserve and pay in full by check or electronic funds transfer, the more you'll save.

Multiple Trips within a Year

Many OAT travelers don’t stop at one annual adventure. For those who reserve two or more trips within one calendar year—either with OAT, Grand Circle Cruise Line, Grand Circle Travel, or a combination of the three—we’ve introduced a new Sir Edmund Hillary Club benefit to reward your exceptional passion for discovery.

Group Leader Program

At O.A.T., we strongly believe that word of mouth is our best advertisement. And it works. Just ask the more than 500 Group Leaders who have chosen an O.A.T. adventure for their travelers this year—and traveled FREE! Watch our video to learn how.

Travel Protection Plan

Watch our video to learn about the benefits of our Travel Protection Plan. You can cancel your O.A.T. adventure at any time—up to the day of your departure, and for any reason—and retain the FULL value of your trip, including your deposit.

Adventure Travel

Airport Transfers

We’ve listened to your feedback, and will now offer international airport transfers to and from your hotel to our travelers who choose to purchase their own airfare on OAT adventures as part of our Personalize Your Trip program, which allows you create the OAT adventure that's right for you.

The Leader in Small Group Adventure Travel

With itineraries designed exclusively for experienced American travelers, we’ve been providing indelible travel memories for more than 37 years. Find out what makes OAT the undisputed leader in small group travel along the road less traveled.

Your Air Choices

Now, OAT can help you personalize your air itinerary with a wider array of choices—including your preferred airline, routing, and connection times. After you reserve your adventure, we’ll work with you to ensure your air arrangements meet your specific needs.

Private Adventures

Sir Edmund Hillary Club

Many OAT travelers return to discover the world with us time and time again, and to show our appreciation, we've created the Sir Edmund Hillary Club, a membership rewards program for travelers who've joined us on three or more adventures.

Travel with the “World’s Best”

Over the past 10 years, our travelers and industry experts have given us high marks in independent surveys from Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, and more. When you embark on an O.A.T. adventure, you can expect an award-winning experience.

People and Culture

Grand Circle Foundation

Alan and Harriet Lewis created the nonprofit Grand Circle Foundation with the mission of changing people’s lives through travel—which includes both the travelers who journey with O.A.T., and the local people who welcome us so warmly into their homelands.

O.A.T. Vice Chairman Harriet Lewis created the Harriet’s Corner online community as a place where travelers can learn and connect. Enjoy stories, trivia, and short films featured in our Inside Scoop e-newsletter … ask and answer questions in our Travel Forum … view issues of our Dispatches quarterly magazine … and much more.

If you're a solo traveler, you probably know that most travel companies require a single supplement – a surcharge of between 10% and 100% of the standard rate. However, Grand Circle travelers enjoy their own room or cabin at FREE or low-cost Single Supplements, saving up to $5000 per person.

Extend Your Trip

ATTENTION
This trip features long flights and/or multiple connections
Learn more >>

Extend your discoveries in Bariloche, Argentina.
See More Options »

Find the Adventure That’s Right for You

Our Activity Level rating system ranks adventures on a scale of 1 to 5 to help you determine if a trip is right for you. See the descriptions below for more information about the physical requirements associated with each rating.

Activity Level 1:

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Easy

Travelers should be able to climb 25 stairs consecutively, plus walk at least 1-2 miles over some uneven surfaces without difficulty. Walks typically last at least 1-2 hours at a time. Altitude can range from zero to 5,000 feet.

Activity Level 2:

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Moderately Easy

Travelers should be able to climb 40 stairs consecutively, plus walk at least 2-3 miles over some uneven surfaces without difficulty. Walks typically last for at least 2-3 hours at a time. Altitude can range from zero to 5,000 feet.

Activity Level 3:

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Moderate

Travelers should be able to climb 60 stairs consecutively, plus walk at least 3 miles over some steep slopes and loose or uneven surfaces without difficulty. Walks typically last for 3 or more hours at a time. Altitude can range from 5,000 to 7,000 feet.

Activity Level 4:

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Moderately Strenuous

Travelers should be able to climb 80 stairs consecutively, plus walk at least 4 miles over some steep slopes and loose or uneven surfaces without difficulty. Walks typically last for 4 or more hours at a time. Altitude can range from 7,000 to 9,000 feet.

Activity Level 5:

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Strenuous

Travelers should be able to climb 100 or more stairs consecutively, plus walk at least 8 miles over some steep slopes and loose or uneven surfaces without difficulty. Walks typically last for 4 or more hours at a time. Altitude can range from 10,000 feet or more.

Itinerary Overview

For the most intrepid explorers, a voyage to the seventh continent is a travel milestone. In this truly unspoiled land, majestic blue icebergs rise from a seemingly endless ocean, whales glide beneath the frosty waters, and leopard seals haul themselves up onto the shifting pack ice. On this two-departure-onlyexpedition (January 22, 2018 and February 3, 2018), you'll experience all of these highlights in pursuit of the ultimate Antarctic travel goal: crossing the elusive Antarctic Circle. With 12 nights aboard the 98-passenger M/V Corinthian, you'll cruise even farther south to a region of Antarctica that few travelers ever see. And, if wind and ice conditions allow, you'll join the ranks of the few travelers who have made the journey across the prized latitude of 66°33´S—the Antarctic Circle—and behold the wonders that await on the other side.

Please note: Crossing the Antarctic Circle is dependent on weather and sea conditions. Your safety is our top priority; if your Expedition Leader determines that the crossing would be unsafe, we may not have the opportunity to cross.

Make It Your Adventure

Personalize your trip to meet your individual needs, from preferred flights and air routing, to “breaking away” to spend more time in a destination.

Air Options

Did you know that you have control over the way you want to fly with us? O.A.T’s team of Adventure Specialists makes every effort to provide you with non-stop flights and acceptable connection times to and from your destination. You also have several other ways you can personalize your air itinerary, which include:

Choose your departure city and airline: We list the most popular gateway cities on our website, but not all of them. If you don’t see yours listed, or there’s one that better suits your needs, let us know. You can also tell us if you have an airline preference and we will try to accommodation your request.

Depart from one city and return from another: Just because your flight leaves from one city doesn’t mean you have to return there. Maybe you flew out of Boston and wish to visit friends in Los Angeles after your trip is over. Tell us where you want to go and we’ll do our best to get you there.

Fly the way you want to: When you fly economy class, we’ll do our best to see that you get your choice of seating preference or even add a special meal request if you have dietary restrictions or needs.

"Break Away" Options

You can extend your time abroad and "break away" anywhere you'd like to do more exploring on your own. Stay for a day, a week, or even a month in a favorite locale. Or consider arriving a few days early in Buenos Aires for a fresh start or spending more time at the end of your trip in Argentina's capital. Our Travel Counselors can provide you with information on the accommodations we will use at the beginning of your trip so that you can make your own arrangements. That way, you'll know that you will be exactly where you need to be to meet your group.

Back-to-Back Adventures

Many of our travelers choose to take another trip directly after their first one ends. Think about it: If you’re already overseas, why not see more of the region and avoid the expense and length of another international flight? Many of our travelers have taken two or three consecutive trips before returning home. One of the most common Small Ship Adventures combined with Antarctic Circle Expedition: Journey through Antarctica is Panama Canal Cruise & Panama: A Continent Divided, Oceans United. And now you’ll save an additional $250-$350 per person when you reserve two trips right after one another.

Extensions

Many Grand Circle travelers simply don’t want their trips to end. With an array of pre- and post-trip extensions to choose from, you have the chance to experience more of the places you’ve traveled so far to see, including Bariloche, Argentina: Patagonian Andes & Lakes and Iguassu Falls, Argentina & Brazil. Plus, you lower your average per-day costs because you’re taking advantage of your already included international airfare.

Day-to-Day Itinerary

PRE-TRIP EXTENSION:

Bariloche, Argentina: Patagonian Andes & Lakes

5 nights from only $1695

Majestic peaks rise above glittering lakes in Bariloche, a nature-lover’s playground. The rugged landscapes of Patagonia and the influence of German culture combine for an Alpine experience in the foothills of the Andes. From a working ranch to a local brewery, you'll experience the vibrant culture that thrives in Argentina’s “Little Switzerland,” while also experiencing the area's natural beauty from lofty viewpoints.

When you arrive in the morning, a Grand Circle representative will meet you at the Buenos Aires airport and escort you to your hotel. Relax until mid-afternoon, and then join an optional orientation walk in the neighborhood around the hotel. Following this brief outing, join your Trip Leader and travel companions for a trip briefing.

This evening, enjoy a Welcome Dinner hosted by your Trip Leader at a traditional Argentinean steakhouse.

After breakfast, set off on a tour of Buenos Aires. Discover its elegant blend of Spanish architecture and several traditional European styles, and see the monument-filled Avenida 9 de Julio and the Plaza de Mayo, home to numerous buildings important to Argentinean history. Your exploration continues in La Boca, a colorful bohemian district with streets full of artists selling their work and performers practicing their tango. You'll then visit Recoleta, where you'll see elegant homes, fashionable shops and restaurants, and the famously ornate cemetery where Eva Peron is buried. The afternoon is yours to explore at leisure.

Following an exclusive Discovery Series discussion on the economy of Argentina later today, enjoy an evening to relax and dine where you please. Or, join us for an optional tango show, which includes dinner.

After a pre-dawn wake up, transfer to the airport for your flight to Ushuaia, the “City at the End of the World.” A former penal colony, Ushuaia's name is a Yamana Indian word for “bay that stretches into the sunset.” Today, it's a small but busy port with a frontier atmosphere. The snowcapped Andes rise on one side of town, while the magnificent Beagle Channel extends from the other.

Upon arrival, you'll embark on a guided tour of Ushuaia, beginning in the coastal area overlooking Beagle Channel to Main Street in the city center. Then you'll visit the Prison Museum, with exhibits on the area's early penal colonies. Tonight, dinner is on your own. Perhaps you'll try one of the many great restaurants specializing in local king crab.

After breakfast, you'll visit Tierra del Fuego National Park, Argentina's only coastal national park. Remarkable for its remote location, raging winds, and rugged landscape, the park protects unique flora and fauna including Austral parakeets and the Fuegian fox. After visiting the park, you'll enjoy a traditional Argentine asado de cordero (lamb barbecue) lunch.

In the late afternoon, embark your expedition ship, the Corinthian. Your Antarctica cruise begins with a thrilling passage through the scenic Beagle Channel as you head east for the storied Drake Passage. Once onboard, you'll meet our Expedition Team, an enthusiastic group of explorers, researchers, and naturalists, many of whom return to the Antarctic every year. During this briefing, they'll preview your journey, outline the course your ship will follow, and detail the stunning sights that lie ahead. Throughout you cruise, these Expedition Team members will serve as your steady companions, teaching you about all aspects of your voyage.

Your first full day at sea takes you across the Drake Passage, which is named after the 16th-century English navigator Sir Francis Drake. As the point where the Atlantic and Pacific oceans meet, this passage is notorious among sea captains and voyagers worldwide for having some of the most turbulent waters on the planet. Crossing this famous passage, known as the "Drake Lake" or the "Drake Shake" (depending on the severity of conditions), is a travel milestone. If sea conditions are characteristically rough, the Corinthian will roll considerably; depending on the intensity, you'll need to stay in your cabin until calmer waters are reached. Please note: For safety, all portholes will be closed while cruising the Drake Passage. (If you have problems with seasickness, we recommend that you carry—and use—patches and pills for seasickness.)

As your journey across the Drake Passage continues, your ship may be accompanied by an impressive variety of seabirds, such as the magnificent wandering albatross. Depending on the time of year, you also have a good chance of spotting whales and dolphins; many different species have been encountered in these rich waters over the years. Take note as you cross the Antarctic Convergence: At this biological barrier, cold polar waters sink beneath the warmer waters of the more temperate zones.

The following itinerary for your Antarctic cruise is for guidance only. Due to constantly changing weather, ice conditions, and wildlife-viewing opportunities, no two Antarctic voyages can ever be exactly the same. Flexibility is the key to creating the best possible trip, as all landings are dependent on the current weather. Throughout your journey, your Captain and Expedition Leader assess daily weather conditions and wildlife opportunities to take full advantage of near-continuous daylight and to maximize time ashore. Visits to research stations depend upon receiving final permission. It is impossible to guarantee precisely what you will see—and when you will see it—because sightings and encounters inevitably vary from departure to departure. However, we are confident that your voyage to Antarctica will be an unforgettable experience.

When you catch sight of land for the first time after crossing the Drake Passage, you have reached the South Shetland Islands. Lying to the north and roughly parallel to the Antarctic Peninsula, this impressive group of islands is a haven for wildlife. You'll visit vast penguin rookeries, land on beaches ruled by Antarctic fur seals, and observe wallowing southern elephant seals. We also hope to visit one of the many research bases in the archipelago and look for either of Antarctica's only two flowering plants, Antarctic hair grass (Deschampsia antarctica) and Antarctic pearlwort (Colobanthus quitensis), which thrive here during the short southern summer. A highlight of your visit to the South Shetlands will be sailing through a narrow passage into the flooded caldera of Deception Island.

The Antarctic Peninsula has a remarkable history—during your voyage, members of your Expedition Team will regale you with tales of the most important and dramatic expeditions to this remote corner of the world. As the Corinthian cruises—and as you make excursions in Zodiac rafts—you will certainly feel the same sense of excitement as many of those early explorers.

Your Antarctic discoveries continue today as you press ever southward toward the Antarctic Circle. Located approximately 66°33´ south of the Equator, the Antarctica Circle is the most southerly of the Earth's five major circles of latitude, and a place few Antarctic expeditions ever reach. As you approach this elusive parallel, you'll notice the landscape beginning to shift: icebergs are larger and even more mesmerizing, the continent's shores are even more rugged, and the glittering sun shines through midnight.

In this most remote corner of the world, your expedition is subject to the whims of thick pack ice and sustained winds—which is precisely why so few travelers make it this far south. As you cruise ever closer to the Antarctic Circle, your Expedition Leader will closely monitor weather and sea conditions and assess the risks to determine if a crossing is possible. If conditions are favorable and it is safe enough to cross, you'll experience a travel milestone that is truly worth celebrating.

If your Expedition Leader determines that it is safe to do so, you'll see what lies beyond the Antarctic Circle today as the Corinthian navigates the waters south of this famed latitude. You may even enjoy more opportunities to witness the wonders of the seventh continent up close aboard the Corinthian's Zodiac crafts, if weather allows. You might set out for tiny Detaille Island—the site of a British post built in 1956 to host dog-sledding survey parties, but evacuated in 1959 when it became clear the ice was too unpredictable. While there, visit the simple wooden cabin the explorers left behind, getting a unique glimpse of life at the South Pole.

As you make your way northward today, you'll enjoy plenty of time to experience the special magic of this awe-inspiring wilderness of snow, ice, waterways, and mountains. You can also expect to see a wide variety of Antarctic wildlife: Enormous rookeries of gentoo, chinstrap, and Adélie penguins; blue-eyed shags; kelp gulls; Cape petrels; snowy sheathbills; and Antarctic terns are just some of the many birds found here in abundance. You are also likely to see Weddell, crabeater, and leopard seals. Depending on the season, you may also encounter orcas, humpback, and minke whales at close range.

If they are not choked with pack ice and icebergs, we plan to navigate some of the most beautiful waterways in the world: the Neumayer and Lemaire channels, narrow passages between towering rock faces and spectacular glaciers. You may also cruise south of the Lemaire Channel to Petermann Island, where Adélie and gentoo penguins, skuas, and blue-eyed shags nest close to the Corinthian's landing site.

Begin your journey back to Ushuaia, again crossing the Drake Passage. Conditions here are always unpredictable, so depending on the degree to which the seas are rolling, you may need to stay in your cabin during the crossing.

As you cruise the Drake Passage, you can watch for birds and whales, enjoy some final lectures by your Expedition Team, and relax and reflect upon your discoveries.

Day 17

Ushuaia, Argentina • Fly to Buenos Aires • Return to U.S.

Meals included:B

After breakfast, disembark the ship in Ushuaia to board a return flight for Buenos Aires. If your trip concludes at this point, you will depart for the U.S. in the late evening; if you are continuing on our optional Iguassu Falls, Argentina & Brazil post-trip extension, you transfer to your Buenos Aires hotel for the night.

POST-TRIP EXTENSION:

Iguassu Falls, Argentina & Brazil

3 nights from only $995

Add thundering Iguassu Falls—twice as wide and 65 feet higher than Niagara Falls—to your explorations of the Southern Hemisphere’s natural wonders. On this extension, visit both the Argentinean and Brazilian sides of this astonishing array of 275 separate cascades and waterfalls—and let this lush tropical environment serve as a colorful contrast to your Antarctic experience.

During your stay in Buenos Aires, join an optional evening excursion to the Esquina Carlos Gardel, one of Buenos Aires' most revered tango houses (named for the creator of the tango). You’ll learn why Argentineans feel such passion for their national dance as you take in a stunning performance and a gourmet Argentinean meal in this 1940s-style club. Dinner is included in this special event.

Panamericano Buenos Aires

Situated in the heart of Buenos Aires, the Superior First-Class Panamericano Buenos Aires offers concierge services, laundry facilities, and a business center with computers. Amenities include air-conditioning, coffee- and tea-making facilities, an in-room safe, satellite TV, and high-speed Internet access.

Located in the heart of historic Buenos Aires, the art-deco NH Buenos Aires City hotel features a rooftop pool, gym, and restaurant. Each air-conditioned room is equipped with a telephone, mini-bar, cable/satellite TV, complimentary wireless Internet, a safe, and a private bath with a hairdryer.

Cilene del Faro Hotel

We'll spend a night in Ushuaia at the Cilene del Faro Hotel, conveniently located on the waterfront next to the Maritime Museum. Relax inside at the Glass Bar—a former lighthouse converted into a cocktail lounge with panoramic views of the Andes, the Beagle Channel, and the city. The hotel has 48 rooms, each equipped with a safe, high-speed Internet access, kitchenette, and private bath.

The M/V Corinthian is an ice-strengthened, ocean-cruising vessel with the latest navigational, communications, and safety equipment. The ship is 290 ft. long and carries 98 passengers in 49 outside-facing cabins. Each of these cabins is at least 215 sq. ft. and has portholes, a window (some with partially obstructed views), or a balcony. The cabins have a sitting area, queen-size bed (convertible to twin beds), a closet, flatscreen TV, a DVD/CD player, telephone, mini-refrigerator, and a private bath with shower, hair dryer, and toiletries. An elevator serves all passenger decks. Common areas include a restaurant and two lounges. During the cruise portion of your trip, you will need to tender to shore via Zodiac craft. Your landing will be “wet,” which means you’ll need to step into water up to ten inches deep and wade ashore.

With Nahuel Huapi Lake as its backdrop, the 67-room Cacique Inacayal Hotel features a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, and Patagonian restaurant. Each room includes private bath, cable TV, and wireless Internet.

This 102-room, modern hotel sits amid the lush vegetation of the Iguassu Falls area, and boasts a spectacular view of the junction of the Parana and Iguazu rivers. Features include indoor and outdoor pools, hot tub, and two restaurants. Rooms are comfortably furnished and feature a private bath.

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If you have any additional travel questions, schedule a call with our expert Travel Counselors at a time that’s convenient for you. Simply, fill out the form to the right. You can schedule your call up to seven days in advance of your preferred time frame. Please indicate which trip, departure, or type of question you have in the comments section.

Our Adventure Specialists are ready to answer any questions you have about your reservation—simply complete the form to the right to get started. A member of our Traveler Support Department will contact you by your preferred method to answer your questions about topics including: